Travel news in brief

A round-up of the week's travel news, including a rise in the number of
Britons heading overseas.

Total overseas visits by Britons grew to 56.1m last year, with a 3 per cent rise in those to EuropePhoto: ALAMY

8:00AM GMT 12 Feb 2012

Pound stretcher

Sterling has strengthened against all the main European holiday currencies in recent weeks – reaching a 15-month high against the euro.

According to research by the Post Office, holidaymakers heading to the Continent can get almost 11 per cent more for their pounds than they got a year ago. Two thirds of the holiday currencies that have slid against sterling are European ones – and the only European currency to have strengthened in the past 12 months is the Swiss Franc – currently up 5.7 per cent, which is bad news for skiers.

Holiday increase

The number of trips abroad made by Britons rose by one per cent last year, according to the Office for National Statistics (ONS). Total visits overseas grew to 56.1m, with a 3 per cent rise in those to Europe (43.7m), despite the wider economic downturn and the strength of the euro.

“Early indications suggest that we may see some growth in international travel, with strong booking in early January reported by our travel clients,” said Mike Saul, head of hospitality and leisure at Barclays Corporate.

Trips by visitors from overseas to Britain increased by 3 per cent compared with 2010.

British holidaymakers are unlikely to be affected by the recent civil unrest in the Maldives, according to tour operators.

President Mohamed Nasheed, the country’s first democratically elected leader, resigned this week following several weeks of protests and rioting in the capital, Malé. The Foreign Office said that the situation in Malé remained “uncertain" following the seizure of the state television channel by a group of rebel police officers, who issued a broadcast urging the president to stand down. A group of officers is also reported to have attacked the headquarters of the ruling Maldives Democratic Party.

Mr Nasheed said he would rather stand down than order the use of force against the protestors, and has handed power to Vice-President Mohamed Waheed Hassan Manik.

The Foreign Office has advised against all but essential travel to the Malé Island, although this does not include Malé International Airport, where most holidaymakers arrive. No other islands have seen any unrest, according to the Foreign Office, and no British travellers are believed to have been directly affected.

A court ruling could pave the way for the introduction of a “fat tax” for obese fliers, a leading barrister has claimed.

The judgement, made by the Court of Appeal, could also prevent passengers with a disability from seeking compensation from their airline if they receive unsatisfactory or inconsistent treatment during a flight.